Chapter Sixty-Nine

M rs. Bennet was in seventh heaven, planning the great feast that would be Christmas dinner on the morrow. Her beautiful Jane would sit beside her betrothed, Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam, owner of Chestnut Creek!

Mr. Darcy – and here she frowned, as she was not certain how matters stood between her second daughter and her suitor. It seemed that things had not gone well when Mr. Darcy was here yesterday. She would nonetheless sit the two together, so that they might work things out.

The youngest girls had spent all of the previous day decorating the house. Longbourn was all but alive with greenery. Lydia had even managed to wind holly around the banister of the staircase, clever child! The Yule log had been placed in the fireplace in the parlour, ready to be lit.

She and Cook had reviewed the menu again this morning. They would start with roast beef, venison and goose, accompanied by potatoes, squash, brussels sprouts and carrots. She had a family recipe for stuffing, which was always praised, so the goose would be stuffed. Of course, there must be a Christmas pudding, with its thirteen ingredients. She had a family recipe for that as well, but she had been forced to admit that Cook's version was superior, so she had allowed herself to be talked into serving Cook's recipe.

After dinner, there would be games in the parlour. Buffy Gruffy was a favourite, as was Steal the White Loaf, though Mr. Bennet would prefer the more intellectual games, like Riddles and Charades. Lydia would clamour loudly for Snapdragon, but surely that was too plebian for these superior guests; Lydia would just have to do without.

Mrs. Bennet commandeered the attention of her two eldest daughters after breakfast. "Let us discuss tomorrow's dinner," she began.

"Oh, Mama, whatever you think is fine," Jane said hastily, hoping to avoid yet another lengthy discussion of her mother's menu.

"Indeed, Jane and I were just thinking of visiting Mrs. Bingley," Elizabeth contributed, equally eager to avoid the topic of the Christmas dinner. Mrs. Bennet enjoyed discussing food, and could easily hold forth for an hour on the benefits of goose over pheasant. The two girls had heard it all before and were not anxious to hear it again.

"Oh! Well, in that case, I shall not keep you," Mrs. Bennet declared. This was good; Lizzy would see Mr. Darcy and perhaps smooth over whatever difficulties had arisen between them.

She went to her husband's study and knocked on the door.

"Come in, Mrs. Bennet."

"Mr. Bennet, I have a task for you."

"I am busy, Mrs. Bennet."

"I do not care; I am quite determined."

Mr. Bennet sighed; there would be no reading until this task was completed. "Very well; what is it?'

"I need a sprig of mistletoe, complete with berries," she informed him.

"Why do you – oh! Lizzy and Mr. Darcy." The two exchanged knowing glances. Mr. Bennet lumbered to his feet and headed out.

***

"Did she do that on purpose, do you think?" Elizabeth asked Jane, as the carriage was readied for their journey. "Threaten to talk of menus so that we would go to Netherfield? I know she wants Mr. Darcy and I to reconcile our differences."

"It is hard to know with Mama, but it is best not to underestimate her, particularly in matters of matrimony," Jane advised.

The girls were greeted at Netherfield by a butler they had not met before; they divested themselves of their winter outerwear and were ushered into the drawing room. "I will advise Mrs. Bingley of your presence," he intoned, as Elizabeth and Jane sat near the fireplace.

Mr. Bingley appeared almost immediately. "My wife is resting, but will be down shortly," he said.

"Oh! We do not want to disturb her," Jane said, sincerely, leaning forward.

"No, no; she is eager to see you."

"Very well," Jane said, sitting back in her chair.

"You have a butler!" Elizabeth said. "I am so glad; it has been some time since Netherfield was fully staffed."

"Georgiana hired Mr. Jameson," Mr. Bingley said, with an air of great satisfaction. "She also found a lady's maid for herself, as the one she had at Pemberley has long been hired elsewhere, and is in the process of getting an additional kitchen maid."

"She is a good mistress for Netherfield, then; I am glad."

"She is the very best mistress! Not only did she hire more staff, but she pays them well and bought better uniforms for everyone. She says what servants usually wear is coarse and uncomfortable. Caroline was too busy trying to impress Darcy to put her mind to the comfort of anyone else in the house."

The two girls traded surprised glances, which Mr. Bingley did not notice.

Georgiana entered the room; Jane and Elizabeth rose and curtsied. "I am so glad you are here!" their hostess enthused. "I will send for refreshments." She pulled the bell cord and then sat beside her husband on a sofa.

"You look well, Georgiana," Elizabeth said.

"I feel so, so much better! My brother and I finally – finally! – made some progress this morning." Seeing her husband's astonished look, she explained, "I told Lizzy that Brother was angry with me, and I with him."

"It is none of my business, of course," Elizabeth said, quickly. "But I am very happy to know that your feelings are improved." There was hope at last! She almost trembled in her joy.

"Darcy made a good point, though," Mr. Bingley mused. "It is hard to know how much to protect one's womenfolk from the harsh realities of life."

"Not all women have the benefit of protection, of course," Georgiana said. "Many woman – indeed, I imagine most women in England – are more familiar with those harsh realities than they would like."

Mr. Darcy spoke from the doorway. "Sadly, you are right, Georgiana. Perhaps that is what makes men such as myself and Bingley here all the more eager to shield the ladies we love." So saying, he moved to sit on the chair nearest Elizabeth. They traded quick glances before Elizabeth dropped her eyes.

"Is this truly something we should discuss in front of Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, Darcy?" Mr. Bingley demanded.

It was Georgiana who responded. "Actually, Charles, I would value the opinions of my friends."

Mr. Darcy added, "And I would welcome their opinions as well. Might Richard join us? Does he know we have visitors?" In truth, he wanted Miss Elizabeth to know that the poison was leaving his heart.

Just then, Martha appeared with the tea tray. She smiled at the two Bennet sisters as she curtsied to her new mistress.

"Oh, of course you must know the Bennets, Martha," Georgiana said.

Elizabeth responded much as she had to Caroline Bingley months ago. "Martha is the daughter of Mrs. Hill, Longbourn's housekeeper."

However, Georgiana's response was very different from that of Miss Bingley. "Oh, that is delightful! It is as if we are all family! Martha, would you please let Mr. Fitzwilliam know that Miss Bennet is here?"

Martha curtsied and departed, but not before giving Elizabeth a quick wink. Mr. Fitzwilliam was in the room in moments, bowing before Jane and taking her hand to kiss. "I did not know you intended to visit, Jane, or I should have been standing outside to await you!"

"And freezing as a result," Jane laughed.

"Well worth it!" he declared.

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat impatiently. Mr. Fitzwilliam looked up. "Yes, cousin?"

"We were discussing an important topic and thought you might weigh in."

"Of course." Mr. Fitzwilliam looked about; not seeing a chair near Jane, he strode across the room to a vacant seat, lifted it easily and carried it back so that he might sit beside his now blushing fiancée. "I am ready," he announced. "What is the important topic?"

"The extent to which ladies should be protected from the harsh realities of life," Mr. Darcy replied.

"Oh! And you truly wish to discuss this in front of Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth?"

"I do, indeed; theirs are certainly valuable opinions, as they are the sort of ladies we would wish to protect," Mr. Darcy said. "So the question is – do ladies wish to be protected?"

There was a moment's silence, as no one knew quite how to begin. Finally, Georgiana said, "I think we must fill you in a bit. I know you both are aware of what I did this past summer. As a result of my reckless behaviour – no, Brother, let me speak – I had a very difficult time of it. I found myself living a life I had never imagined possible, cleaning up after strangers, reviled, ignored –" Her voice faltered. Mr. Bingley put a protective arm around her and she leant against him. "My clothing was sold and I was dressed in coarse housemaid's dresses. My supposed husband hurt me and was unfaithful, though it turned out it was me he was being unfaithful with, as he already had a wife! I cannot understand how Mrs. Younge was able to bear it. In any case, the worse things got, the angrier I became at my brother for not warning me about the world. I had no idea that such wickedness was possible. I suppose I was living in a sort of fairytale, right up until Gretna Green."

She turned then to Mr. Darcy. "And then, once I was found, I learnt that he was angry at me, as well. Go ahead, Brother. Please."

Mr. Darcy bowed his head and did not speak immediately. Elizabeth felt again the awkwardness of the situation and the inappropriateness of her presence there. "Would it be easier if we left, Mr. Darcy?"

"No, you know my hopes; you deserve to hear it all. As I told you long ago in Netherfield's library, Miss Elizabeth, my father asked for my promise to care for Georgiana on his deathbed. I did everything I could to make good on that promise. I gave her everything she could want; but not just things, of course, I also spent every minute I could with her. Did I not, Georgiana?"

"You did, of course you did." Tears were coursing down her cheeks now. "As busy as you were with Pemberley, I had but to ask for your company and you would put everything aside to be with me."

"But she was right when this morning she said that she had lived in a fairytale. Nothing is perfect, of course, but I suppose Pemberley is a bit of a fairytale in and of itself. The Darcy family has always prided itself in taking the best possible care of its dependents. There are sufficient funds to cover most eventualities. Cottages burn down, but we are always able to find room for the family until a new cottage can be built. Occasionally, a tenant will have a crop fail, but we waive the rent and supply the family with food and fuel until the following season."

"Which is why you could not let Wickham have access to Pemberley's coffers," Georgiana said. "You were right; he would have demanded more and more until there was nothing left. I understand that now, though I did not at the time."

"I could not, no, but nor should I have just walked away from you!" His self-loathing was plain to hear.

"What could you have done? I was George's property."

"And that is the biggest problem of all, " Elizabeth felt compelled to interject. "Why should a wife be her husband's property?! It is of all things the most absurd."

Mr. Fitzwilliam said, "Ah, we have a devotee of Mary Wollstonecraft here!"

Elizabeth blushed at having been so outspoken, but Mr. Darcy said, immediately, "As is any intelligent female!"

Mr. Fitzwilliam raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I am entirely on your side. My mother belongs to a London society devoted to Mary Wollstonecraft's beliefs, and she has raised both her sons to respect the rights of women."

"I thank you," Elizabeth managed. She threw a grateful look at Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Fitzwilliam said, "In any case, Darcy is right. He should not have just walked away, leaving you in that devil's hands."

"That is my chief regret, Georgiana," Mr. Darcy, earnestly. "I confess that I am not sorry to have given you a fairytale life. How could I have done otherwise for a beloved sister? But I am sorry that I deserted you just when you needed me most. I wish I had found a means by which I could have followed you to London, learnt where you lived, and paid that man a monthly allowance in return for treating you well. My only defense…" he trailed off.

"Yes?" his sister prompted him.

"I was just so very, very angry! I could scarce see straight! My vow to our father – all that I had tried to do for you – all thrown away!" He could not speak for a moment and he looked away, eyes closed.

Mr. Fitzwilliam hastily said, "But let us return to the original question. Should we protect our womenfolk from the miseries of the world? I know I would do anything I could to protect Jane from the horrors of our nation's slums."

Jane swallowed. "I am not the strongest woman in the world, I know. But is it not right that I at least know what other people suffer? Have I not, in truth, the obligation to know, even if I suffer as a result?"

Elizabeth murmured, "But I can see that it is a natural thing to want the person you love to not suffer, and so to keep them in ignorance."

Mr. Darcy gave her a grateful look. "Just so."

"But I still must enquire as to why you did not act sooner, holding Mr. Wickham's debts as you did. That is what I do not understand."

Georgiana spoke quickly. "Oh! Elizabeth! Debtor's prison is everything horrible! Tell her, Brother."

"Do you wish Miss Bennet to hear this, Richard?"

"Miss Bennet can speak for herself," Jane said, swiftly. "And yes."

Mr. Darcy then told the room the conditions under which George Wickham now lived, adding that thousands of people inhabited the various prisons: Coldbath Fields, Fleet, Giltspur Street Compter, King's Bench, Marshalsea, Poultry Compter, Wood Street Counter and the Clink. "And there they must remain until their debts are paid in full," he concluded.

"I do not understand," Elizabeth said, blankly. "How are they able to pay their debts if they are imprisoned?"

"The debts must be paid for them," Mr. Darcy replied. "By a spouse, a family member, anyone who might care enough to pay. Prisoners can pay for better living conditions, if they have the wherewithal to do so."

Georgiana said, "So we could pay for George to have better food and a better place to live?"

Her brother hesitated before saying. "We could, but will we?"

"A moment, please," Elizabeth said. "Is this why you did not act sooner, Mr. Darcy? Was it because you could not put your childhood friend in such a place?"

He turned to face her, his voice tight. "Could you do that to someone you had once cared for, Miss Elizabeth? Even if that person had become someone you did not wish to recognise? I paid his debts whenever and wherever I found them, not wanting merchants to come to grief as a result of his dissolute habits. I hoped, year after year, that he would see the error of his ways and become a better person. That never happened, of course. But to have him living in a cell, all but naked, starving, never to see the sun again? I can bear the thought when I recall how he treated Georgiana, but before that I could not have done so." He dropped his head into his hands.

The room was silent, allowing Mr. Darcy time to recover himself. He looked up at last. "But Fitzwilliam here was right when he told me that evil triumphs if good does nothing. And I allowed my concern for an old friend to keep me from doing what I should have done."

Elizabeth said, softly, "Surely you need not be ashamed of having a kind heart."

"And yes, Brother," Georgiana said, firmly. "We will pay for him to have better living conditions."

"Very well," Mr. Darcy said, softly. "I will write my solicitor directly."

Elizabeth was astonished at how different Mr. Darcy and Georgiana looked now! Their faces were relaxed and calm, their eyes soft. There was still doubtless much they needed to say to one another, but it was clear that the chasm that had existed between them had been bridged. Mr. Darcy had released the poison in his heart at last; her own joy could not be denied.

But she could not show her elation, and it was impossible to return to the sort of conversation that was appropriate for an afternoon call. Jane and Elizabeth traded glances and soon rose. Georgiana began to apologise, but the Bennet ladies shushed her, hugged her hard, and took their leave.